On Monday, Western nations urged Russia to stop suppressing dissenting voices and to end its involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, which has resulted in human rights abuses. This comes as Russia is being reviewed by the United Nations’ primary human rights organization.

A group from Moscow, headed by State Secretary and Deputy Justice Minister Andrei Loginov, advocated for Russia’s authority to maintain law and order by limiting certain types of protests or expressions that could pose a threat to domestic security. He also stated that Russia’s actions in Ukraine were not relevant to the topic being discussed in the review.

On Monday, a 3 1/2-hour meeting took place in Geneva as part of a process called universal periodic review (UPR). This review is conducted every four or five years for all United Nations member states in collaboration with the U.N.-supported Human Rights Council.

In February of last year, President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine sparked widespread criticism from the international community. Two groups of investigators, supported by the United Nations, have been tasked with examining human rights violations in both Ukraine and Russia.

During the Monday session, Western nations voiced their disapproval of Ukraine’s children being deported, Russia’s suppression of civil society, and the detainment of activists such as Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Kara-Murza. They also criticized Russia for limiting the rights of the LGBTQI community and those protesting the war.

“The increase in Russia’s domestic repression since the last UPR has only fueled their overseas oppression, including the ongoing atrocities in Ukraine,” stated the British ambassador in Geneva, addressing the question of where to begin.

Yevheniia Filipenko, the ambassador of Ukraine to U.N. institutions in Geneva, highlighted the undeniable proof of Russia’s severe and organized violations of human rights, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in her nation. She condemned the continuous assaults on innocent civilians, which include acts such as murder, torture, rape, and forced deportations.

She stated that Russia will be held responsible for the long list of international crimes.

Russian authorities justified their security protocols, stating that limitations were intended to prevent disturbances that could jeopardize safety, as well as their position on matters of gender.

Several nations, including allies of Moscow and developing countries, praised Russia for its alleged accomplishments in safeguarding the rights of individuals with disabilities.

“I acknowledge the progress made by our country in the realm of human rights, but I cannot disregard the challenges we have faced,” stated Loginov, referencing the impact of global sanctions and limitations on Russia’s involvement in international organizations.

He stated that Russia will consider all suggestions that align with its constitution, except for those concerning Ukraine.